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A Pet First Aid Application for Your Mobile Device

March 13th, 2014

Your pet is an important and cherished member of your family. Unfortunately, in the event of an emergency, many pet owners are not as well versed in pet first aid as they may be in first aid for humans. Thankfully, a new mobile application has been created by the American Red Cross to provide information that will help dog and cat owners provide emergency care triage until a veterinarian is able to assist.

The app, called “Pet First Aid”, costs 99 cents and is available for both iPhone and Android. It includes videos, photos, and step-by-step instructions for over 25 common pet emergency situations. Topics include treating wounds, controlling bleeding, care for cardiac and breathing issues, treating burns, care in cold and heat related emergencies, and what to do in the event of a car accident or fall.

Other helpful features include:

The ability to create a profile for each of your pets which includes their tag numbers, pictures, a list of medications, and any special instructions.

A programmable feature that will allow you to call your veterinarian with just one click.

Locators for animal hospitals and pet-friendly hotels.

Information on how to include your pets in your family’s emergency preparedness plan.

Separate content areas for cats and dogs.

An early warning sign checker which will allow you to recognize health problems and seek preventative care as soon as possible.

As you work to better prepare yourself for emergencies with your pets, you should consider stocking a pet first aid kit. The Humane Society of the United States recommends pet owners keep the following on hand: adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, cotton balls, gauze, hydrogen peroxide, an ice pack, non-latex disposable gloves, petroleum jelly, a rectal thermometer, scissors with blunt ends, sterile saline solution, tweezers, and a pet carrier.